keeping it Peel 24/7

ABC/Paramount 495. Released June, 1964. Having suffered through 5 of Ray’s 9 albums of new music in the 1960s so far, I am relieved to discover that all is not entirely lost for the dude who was so cool in the early to mid 50s. In a reversal of the previous concept album “Sweet & Sour Tears”, this album is filled with humorous songs - without being in the slightest bit cheesy. Straight from the off with the cover of Charlie Calhoun’s “Smack Dab In The Middle” we’re feeling finger clicking good. I always loved Phil Harris’s “The Thing” - I used to sing it to my little Charlene when she was 4! Ray’s mid-album version isn’t all that but it still makes me smile, I guess it’s mission accomplished. It’s immediately followed by “The Man With The Weird Beard” - a RIGHT old return to form, with a kicking backbeat, a cool swing, a bit of a vocal drawl from Ray and kind-of ironic “lounge” backing from The Raeletts. “Have A Smile With Me” is a step back in the right direction…